• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.282-293
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• 2008

Partially sulfonated poly(aryl ether sulfone) membranes were prepared from the sulfonated sulfone monomer, which was synthesized by a nucleophilic substitution, non-sulfonated monomers and potassium carbonate by a direct polymerization method and a subsequent solution casting technique with mixed solvents of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc). To investigate the effect of mixed solvent, the volume ratios of NMP and DMAc were varied in the range of $0{\sim}100%$ and the degrees of sulfonation of the copolymers were fixed as 50%. The surface properties of the resulting membranes were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), and a comparative study of the morphology changes and the physicochemical properties such as proton conductivity and methanol permeability was achieved. It was found that proton conductivities depend on the volume ratio of NMP-DMAc mixed solvents, and the proton conductivity determined at the condition of $25^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity was $1.38{\times}10^{-1}\;S/cm$ for the membrane prepared in the 50:50 v/v-% of NMP : DMAc mixed solvent.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.514-521
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• 2010

A new one-shot process was employed to fabricate proton exchange membranes (PEMs) over conventional solvent-casting process. Here, PEMs containing nano-dispersed silica nanoparticles were fabricated using one-shot process similar to the bulk-molding compounds (BMC). Different components such as reactive dispersant, urethane acrylate nonionmer (UAN), styrene, styrene sulfuric acid and silica nano particles were dissolved in a single solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by copolymerization within a mold in the presence of radical initiator. We have successfully studied the water-swelling and proton conductivity of obtained nanocomposite membranes which are strongly depended on the surface property of dispersed silica nano particles. In case of dispersion of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles, the nanocomposite membranes exhibited an increase in water-swelling and a decrease in methanol permeability with almost unchanged proton conductivity compared to neat polymeric membrane. The reverse observations were achieved for hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Hence, hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were effectively dispersed in hydrophilic and hydrophobic medium respectively. Hydrophobic silica nanoparticles dispersed in hydrophobic domains of PEMs largely suppressed swelling of hydrophilic domains by absorbing water without interrupting proton conduction occurred in hydrophilic membrane. Consequently, proton conductivity and water-swelling could be freely controlled by simply dispersing silica nanopartilces within the membrane.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.985-990
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• 1995

Grapefruit seed extracts(GFSE) have some unknown compounds which exhibit the antibiotic activities aganist microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. We have examined the effects of GFSE on the growth of Enterobacter pyrinus which was isolated from necrotic lesions of pear trees. During the cultivation, the growth of the bacteria was strongly inhibited at the low concentration(0.01%, w/w) of GFSE. Hydrophobic fraction extracted from GFSE by mixed solvents (chloroform : methanol : water, 1 : 2 : 0.8, v/v/v) had components which inhibited the growth of bacteria. There was, however, no inhibitory effect of GFSE on the activities of several enzymes including hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase. $O-nitrophenyl-{\beta}-D-galactopyranoside(ONPG)$, the artificial substrate of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ was hydrolyzed in the presence of GFSE, indicating that the membrane was pertubated by the GFSE. From the results it was suggested that the antibiotic activity of GFSE is due to the change of membrane permeability of cell. GFSE was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with $C_{18}$ reverse phase column. Among active fractions, three peaks were identified as 1-chloro-2-methyl-benzene (o-toluene), N,N-dimethyl-benzenemethaneamine, 1-[2-(2-ethylethoxy)ethoxy]-4- (1,1,3,3-tetramethyl)-bezene, respectively, while the other three remained unidentified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.506-510
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• 2002

The effect of antioxidant activity of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) on the liposomal phospholipid membrane was investigated by spectrophotometry. Membrane oxidation causes damage to the membrane fluidity and permeability. It brings further destruction to the sustenance of biological homeostasis. In addition, it is related to several diseases, aging and carcinogenesis. The sample PG was extracted and fractionated to five different types; butanol (PGMB), ethylacetate (PGMEA), ethylether (PGMEE), hexane (PGMH) and methanol (PGMM). The oxidation indices of PGMEA and PGMEE fractions in oxidized dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) liposomes had stronger antioxidant activities than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and were similar to antioxidant activities compared with butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), a well-known potent antioxidant, in oxidized DLPC liposomes. The oxidation indices of PGMM extract, PGMB and PGMH fractions exhibited weak antioxidant activity compared with ${\alpha}$-tocopherol in oxidized DLPC liposomes. The oxidation indiex of PGMEE fractions added with vitamin C showed even strong antioxidant activity in the oxidized DLPC liposomes. The oxidation activity of BHT with vitamin C also proved to be stronger than BHT without vitamin C. Therefore vitamin C evidently helps to improve the effect of antioxidant in DLPC liposomes. These results indicate that potentially bioactive substances in PGMEE fraction has a function as potent antioxidant against phospholipid membrane oxidation.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2010

Pepper mild mosaic virus(PMMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are important pathogens in various vegetable crops worldwide. We have found that hot water extract of Phellinus linteus mycelium strongly inhibit PMMoV and CMV infection. Based on these results, the inhibitor named as 'PLM-WE1' formulated from extract of Phellinus linteus mycelium was tested for its inhibitory effects on PMMoV and CMV infection to each local lesion host plant (Nicotiana glutinosa: PMMoV, Chenopodium amaranticolor: CMV). Pretreatment effect of PLM-WE1 against infections of each virus (PMMoV and CMV) to local host plant was measured to be 99.2% to PMMoV and 80.3% to CMV, and its permeability effect was measured to be 45.0% to PMMoV and 41.9% to CMV. Duration of inhibitory activity of PLM-WE1 against PMMoV infection on N. glutinosa was maintained for 3 days at 75% inhibition level and CMV infection on C. amaranticolor maintained for 3 days at 62% inhibition level. Inhibitory effects on systemic host plants of PLM-WE1 were measured to be 75~85% to PMMoV and 75% to CMV. Under electron microscope, PMMoV particles were not denatured or aggregated by mixing PLM-WE1. It is suggested that the mode of action of PLM-WE1 differ from that of inactivation due to the aggregation of viruses. The methanol extract of P. linteus mycelium was sequentially partitioned with haxane, ethyl acetate, BuOH and $H_2O$. The $H_2O$ fraction was showed high activity than the other fractions. The active compound was isolated with a partial acid hydrolysis, fractional precipitation with ethanol. The inhibitory effect of the precipitate isolated from 70% ethanol fraction was 99.1% to PMMoV and 88.0% to CMV. The structure of isolated compound was determined by $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR. This compound was identified as a polysaccharide consisting alpha or beta-glucan.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2010

Rosa rugosa has traditionally been used as a folk remedy for diabetes. The objective of this study was therefore to demonstrate the inhibition of endothelial dysfunction activities through antioxidants and the anti-glycation of Rosa rugosa roots. Dried roots of Rosa rugosa were boiled in methanol for three hours, evaporated and lyophilized with a freeze-dryer. The methanolic extract of Rosa rugosa roots (RRE) was tested for antioxidant activities by measuring total polyphenol (TP) content, flavonoid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) assay, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The total TP content, flavonoid content, FRAP value, and $DPPHSC_{50}$ are $345.2\;{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalents/mg dry matter (DM), $128.1\;{\mu}g$ quercetin equivalents/mg DM, 2.2 mM $FeSO_4$/mg DM and $34.2\;{\mu}g$ DM/mL, respectively. Treatment of RRE significantly lowered fluorescent formation due to advanced glycation reaction. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging assay, monocyte adherent assay and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay were performed to investigate the possibility that RRE improves endothelial dysfunction-induced diabetic complications. The adhesion of THP-1 to treated HUVEC with RRE ($100\;{\mu}g/mL$; 33% and $500\;{\mu}g/mL$; 75%) was significantly reduced compared to HUVEC stimulated by glyceraldehydes-AGEs (advanced glycation end product). The TEER value ($88\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$) of stimulated HUVEC by glyceraldehydes-AGEs was reduced compared to non-stimulation ($113\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$). However, normalization with RRE increased endothelial permeability in a dose-dependent manner ($100\;{\mu}g/mL$; $102\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ and $500\;{\mu}g/mL$; $106\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$). Thus, these results suggest that Rosa rugosa roots could be a novel candidate for the prevention of diabetic complications through antioxidants and inhibition of advanced glycation end product formation.